Hot flush?

[PoppyBaxter]

I've noticed some changes over the last 6 months or so, which make me think I may be perimenopausal. I'm 41.

I've had a massive increase in sex drive, get ovulation pains in my back, have struggled more than usual with sleep, have lost volume in my breasts, have a heavy period one month and very light the next. I've had blood tests which have come back normal.

On Tuesday I had what I think was a hot flush. My chest, neck and face was blotchy and red. I headed to the gym (10 minute drive) and set myself up to start working out. The gym was cool and I'd not done anything yet, and I literally burned alive! My chest, neck and face went BRIGHT red and I felt a wave of panic and burning heat. I left the gym to splash water on my face, but nothing would cool me down. This lasted for about 10 minutes.

Would I expect to have one massive hot flush and then nothing else since? And do they last for as long as this (10 minutes of build up and then 10 minutes of burning)?

If this happened to me at work, I'd be mortified. I'm dreading it happening again.

I only ever had 1 night of really intense hot flushes, it was when I was on holidays, I wondered if the sugar in the alcohol and maybe an anxiety surge triggered them /maybe pms, it was years ago. I ld say I was only 39. I lay in front of a fan for the night, with literally my skin crawling. It was v uncomfortable.

In the last year (I m now 45), I had hot and cold flushes, but they are very mild. I can be shivery by day or too hot at night, they pass without too much fuss.

That's interesting. Perhaps I won't necessarily have loads of them from here then.